Date: 09/13/2010

Number: 1

Today, my husband and I enjoyed a different kind of Hummingbird. It seemed to be an Anna's Hummer. It was bigger, and stockier than our usual Ruby Throated species that we enjoy during the year. It had a green back and head, white throat and dirty markings on it's side, broad tailed with white feathers on the base of it's tail. Also, some markings on it's throat...may have been a juvenile male or female....It fed on our potted Ventana's for several minutes before finding the feeders. Once it knew it had an unlimited supply, it made itself at home on a nearby perch. Preened and ate for quite some time. We provide our birds with artificial perches from nature. The first year it was an accident of nature. Our huge sunflower stalks survived two winters ago and our birds loved using them as neardby perch to our feeders during the snow storms. Then, I had the idea to install more "perches" in the form of two or three branches that I attached to stakes in the garden...just the right size to perch near all our feeders. Now,we watch all our birds at close range this way. The Downey woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadee's, Hummingbirds, and now even our Morning Doves like to perch on our "branches before flying to the feeders. It's a special treat for our family. We have created our own year long aviary....not enclosed of course but just a foot or two from our feeders that are right ourside our huge bay window in the living room. The birds love the perches and we love watching them at close range all year long. WE have created a little Nature Show of our own that provides us with hours of pleasure each and every day of the year. So don't throw away all your branches, find the perfect one or two and stake

Fairfield, IA

Latitude: 41 Longitude: -91.9

Observed by: Sharon
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